Roof bolting drill



May 4, 1965 N. W. DENSMORE ROOF BOLTING DRILL Filed July 25. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a@ Il //0 G /2 4a f3 50 76 I o ||I o 4"@ 6:9 o s@ ml '5 o y ma .ea

4 46 24 /6 M 5a f6 m .f 42 *v0 2 fl INVENTOR.

u -/II 98 NEAL w. oENsMoRE v @o BY uwe/@XML AT TORNEY.

May 4, 1965k N. w. DENsMoRE 3,181,625

RooF BOLTING DRILL Filed July 25. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA.

lull 7a IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

NEAL. W. DENSMORE.

May 4 1965 N. w. DENsMoRE 3,181,625

ROOF BOLTING DRILL Filed July 25, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. N EAL W. DE NSMORE.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 1s Claims. (ci. 173-44) This invention relates to improvements in roof bolting drills and more particularly to a tilt bracket mounted expandable length roof bolting drill with a single liexible motor feed rack.

This application is a substitute for application Serial No. 712,476, filed January 3l, 1958, which is now abandoned.

Many roof bolting drills used in mines today in order to provide the extension ilexibility necessary for the various heights of coal encountered use two types of feed for the drill feed means and the drill motor. In addition there are many complicated and expensive mounting structures used for such roof bolting drills to provide flexibility through tilting adjustment of the drills.

It is therefor a major object of the present invention to provide an improved expandable length roof bolting drill with a single flexible rack readily adaptable to the length of the extendable main column of the roof bolting drill which provides a single feed track along which rotation of the feed unit pinion advances the feed unit and the drill rotation unit from the bottom to the top of he roof bolting drill main column.

Another object is for a exible chain rack to flex into and out of an out of the way chain rack storage means at the bottom as the main column is retracted to the low position.

A further object is to provide a roof bolting drill mounting tilt bracket which is mounted on a mine vehicle.

A still further object is for the roof bolting drill mounting tilt bracket to provide storage space and guidance for the lower portion of vthe flexible chain rack.

Another object is to provide a roof bolting drill tilt mounting bracket which provides for drilling over the vehicle or away from the vehicle as controlled by insertion kand. removal of a single tilt control pin in the tilt mounting bracket structure and subsequent actuation of a single power cylinder.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View of an improved roof bolting drill with the main column and the single ileXible chain gear pinion rack in the retracted state for low coal.

. FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the roof bolting drill of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a partial cut away land sectioned view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE l showing main column, pinion and rack, feed unit, roller and drill rotation unit in detail. v

FIGURE 4 is a partial cut away and sectioned side elevation view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 of an improved roof bolting drill with the main column and the single llexible chain gear pinion rack in the extended height state for higher coal than shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cut away and sectioned plan view tal-:en along line 5-5 of FIGURE l showing tilt mounting bracket roof bolt drill assembly detail.

ice

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of an improved roof bolting drill tilt mounting bracket structure with the control pin removed and the fluid cylinder actuated for tilting the roof bolting drill away from the mine vehicle.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of the tilt mounting bracket structure of FIGURE 6 with the control pin in place and the fluid cylinder actuated for tilting the roof bolting drill toward and over the mine vehicle.

The improved expandable roof bolting drill 10 shown, which utilizes a exible chain feed rack 12, is shown to be mounted on body 14 of a mine vehicle by mounting tilt bracket structure 16. The flexible chain feed rack 12 is suspended as by fastening means 13 from the top of the upper portion 20 of the extensible length main column 22. The drill rotation motor 24 and drill 26 are connected to a feed unit 23 which includes a feed motor 30, a worm and worm gear transmission 32 and a feed unit driven pinion 34 for advancing the feed unit 2S and drill motor 24 with the drill 26 upward from the bottom position shown in FIGURE 1.

Extensible length main column 22 has a lower portion 36 which includes cylinder 33 and side plates 40 are secured to the sides of the cylinder 33 and these side plates act as guides slidably engaged by side plates 42 of the upper portion 2i) which is telescopic-ally arranged within the lower portion 36. A vertical flexible rack backing strip 44 is Secured to the cylinder 33 and similar parallel backing strips 45 are secured to the side plates of the upper column portion 29 at the outer sides of the strip 44, and a flexible chain feed rack 12 may be guided and supported by these backing strips as the extensible length main column 22 is extended or retracted. The lower portion 36 of main column 22 also has a roller guide strip 46 to provide a rolling surface guide for portions 48 of rollers 50 of roller guide carriage 52. Each roller 56 has end rolling surfaces 54 with lianges 56 which roll along and are guided by projections 53 of side plates 42 of the upper column portion Ztl.

Roller guide carriage 52 is fastened to frame 60 of feed unit 2S as by bolts 62. Feed unit frame 60 supports the feed unit driven pinion 34 at the opposite side of main column 22 from roller guide carriage 52. Drill rotation motor 24 and drill 26 are mounted to roller guide carriage 52 as by nut and bolt assemblies 64. This provides continuous guided support for the drill motor 24 and drill 26 and for feed unit 28 as the feed unit driven pinion 34 advances roller guide carriage 52 from the lower positions of FIGURES 1 and 4 to such feed advanced positions such as the position indicated in phantom in FIG- URE 4.

Cylinder 3S contains piston 66 from which piston rod 63 extends through the top 70 of cylinder 38 to pivotal connection 72 with top 74 of main column upper portion Ztl. When fluid under pressure is admitted through lluid line 76 to cylinder 58, piston 66 and upper portion 20 of main column 22 are moved upward to extended positions such as the extended position shown in FIGURE 4. When iluid pressure in line 76 is released, piston 66 and upper portion 20 of the main column 22 return to the retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE l.

Drill centralizer structure 7S, which is mounted on the top 74 of the main column upper portion 20, is equipped with two centralizer jaw arms 8@ which are controllable by means 82 through linkage assembly 84 from the open position indicated in phantom in FIGURE 2 to the closed position shown for drill guidance when drilling is started. When centralizer jaws Sil are in the open position as indicated in phantom, additional clearance is provided for fun' ther drill motor 24 and drill 26 feed advance.

Lower portion 36Vof main column 22 and cylinder 38 are fixed to bracket frame unit 86 of mounting tilt Vbracket structure 16. Bracket frame unit 86 is pivotally connected by pivotal means 8S at its outer end to a. second bracket pivotal connection 88. Stop lugs 95 onV Vthe ysidesV of theV A bracket 94 are engageable by the sidewalls v108 `of the bracket frame unit 90 to prevent downward swing of the latter below the horizontal, as shown in' FIGS. 4 and 6. Fluid cylinder 98 is pivotally mounted at'100 on the upper end of mounting bracket 94 and pivotally connected at 102 at the end of its output rod 104 to the inner end of bracket frame unit 86. Y

Openings 106 are provided in sidewalls 108 of second bracket frame unit .90 for removable pin 110. In addition notches 112 are provided in side plates 114 of bracketr frame unit 86 for engaging-pin 110 when the pin 110'isV insertedv in position extending through both openings 106' of second bracket frame unit 90. When Vpin'r110 is re-k moved f rorn second bracketfframe unit 90 and lluid under pressure is fed to the rod end'99 of cylinder 9S through uid line 113, frame bracket unit 86 is pivoted about the axis of pivotal means 88 to tilt the roof'bolting drill 10 outward away from the vehicle as indicated in FIGURE 6. When fluid under pressure is fed to the head end 101 of cylinderv 98, through a fluid line, 115, frame bracket unit 86 is pivoted'about the axis of pivotal means 88 in the opposite direction to return the drill to the upright position shown in FIG. 1. When, however, pin 110 is left" in place and fluid under pressure is fed to the rod end' 99 of cylinder V98 through fluid line 113,'cylinder 98 is actuated in the same direction as when the pin 110 is removed. However, with pin 110 in place, bracket frame unit 86 .and second bracket frame unit 90 as an assembled drilll column. There is also provided flexing of a flexible lchain rack into and out of out of the way'chain rack storage means at the bottom of the roof bolting drill column.

In addition `there is provided improved tilting means for a roof bolting drill` vwhich mounts on a mine vehicle. There is also provided out of the way storage for a portion of the flexible chain rack within the mounting tiltv bracket structure. Y

While there is shown and described rcertain embodiments of Vthis invention, various changes and modifica-v tionsV may be effected without departing from the spirit and scoperof thefinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Y What isV claimed is:V

1. Ina roof bolting drill mounting structure, means for tilting adrill comprising a first bracket pivotally mounted on a vehicle frame, a second bracket pivoted to I said rst bracket at the outer ends ofthe rst and second brackets, said :second bracket'for vmounting said drill mounting structure'andr a, power cylinder .pivotally Ymounted on the vehicle frame and having an actuatingvrod pivotally connectedA to the inner end of said second vbracket actuation of which is-eifective totilt the drill.

2.'.-In the roof bolting drill mounting structure defined in claim 1 c ontroltilt pinfmeans constructed for inser; tion into and removal from said drill mounting means,

said rst andfsaidsecondbracket and said power cylinder removed and the power cylinder has been actuated and to unit, pivot about the axis of the pivot means `92 to tilt roof bolting drill 10 inwardly over the` vehicle as indi;

cated in FIGURE 7. With pin 110 in place and the side-` walls 108 of bracket frame 90 engaged with stop lugs 95 the drill is in an upright position. WithV bothY outward tilting as in FIGURE 6 and inward tilting as in FIGURE 7 forces 'exerted on the tilting actuating cylinder are directed axially longitudinally along the actuating rod 104 of cylinder 98.

Second bracket frame unit 90 of mounting tilt structure 16 is provided with a curved shield 116 which extends at Y upper portion of the expandable length main column 22,V

is retracted. Storage of theV flexed portion of flexible chain feed rack 12 above the inner surface 120 of shield 116 and between walls 108 of second bracket frame unit 90 is most complete in the state of FIGURE l with the flexed portion of flexible chain feed rack 12 in out of the way storage extending to beneath pivot means 92. As mentioned above the expandable column 22 may be adjusted .in length to accommodate yvarying heights of the mine headroom only when it is verticallydisposed, and remains at its adjusted length during the hole drilling operations. Thus when the column is tilted with' respect to thevertical as shown in dotted'lines in FIGS. 6 and 7, only feeding of the drill along the column normally takes place.

There is herein provided an improved expandable length roof bolting drill with a single flexible rack readily adaptable to any length of the extendable main column .with a single feed track along which rotation of a feed unit pinion advances the feed unit and a drill rotation unit with a drill from the bottom to the top of the roof bolting provide for forces exerted on the actuatingrod by the power cylinder to be exerted axially longitudinally along the actuating rod in the same direction for tilting the drill gboth for roof'drilling above the vehicle and for roof drilling outward away from'the vehicle. l

device movable along said-extensible drill boom and hav-V ing a toothed drive wheelk engaging the teeth of said i 'Y straight portion of said feed rack for effecting feed'.

4. In combination, anfupri-ght column comprising rel-` atively extendible telescopic partsv which when the column is extended provide upperV and lower parts and the upper part telescoping down along the lower part as the column is collapsed, said* parts providing extensiblev guiding.' means arranged lengthwise of the column, a drilling tool mounted on said column Vfor movement longitudinallyl along said-guiding means, means for relatively extending saidfcolumn parts to vary the eifect-ive length of said column, and means for feedingsaid drilling tool along r its guiding means lengthwise of, the column comprisinga Vflexible feed rack attached to the upper part and extend# able with the-upper columny of said rack extending longitudinally along `said column and the latter providing a` n support for said exible'rack in all extended positions thereof, said feeding means also including a motordriverr pinion mounted to move with said drilling `tool during feeding thereof along the column and, engaging said'.

' i feed rack.

5. An apparatus comprising'asupport, a hollow elon-v gated member mounted on ,said support, a slidable mem-V relative to said hollow member", said iirstv and secondY mentioned members having co-operable 4guide rsurfaces aromas which are engageable with a mechanism movable therealong regardless of the relative position of said members, a iiexible element having an end secured to said slidable member and being substantially coextensive with said members when said slidable member is in an extended position with respect to said hollow member, and means for receiving said flexible element in a non-operative position when said slidable member is withdrawn into said hollow memtber.

6. An apparatus comprising a support, a hollow elongated member mounted on said support, a slidable member of substantially the same length as said elongated member and slidable with respect thereto to extend outwardly thereof, means for sliding said sli-dable member relative to said hollow member, said first and second mentioned members having cooperable guide surfaces which are engageable with a mechanism movable therealong regardless of the relative position of said members, a flexible element having an end secured to said slidable member and being substantially coextensive with said members when said slidable member is in an extended position with respect to said hollow member, means for receiving said flexible element in a non-operative position when said slidable member is withdrawn into said hollow member, wherein said flexible element comprises a series of pivotally connected toothed links and wherein means is provided for deflecting the flexible element in a direction at substantially right angles to said members.

7. In combination, an upright column comprising a relatively extendible telescopic part which when the column is extended provide upper and lower parts and the upper part telescoping down along the lower part as the column is collapsed, said parts providing extensible guiding means arranged lengthwise of the column, a drilling tool mounted on said column for movement longitudinally along said guide means, means for relatively extending said column parts to vary the effective length of said column, and means for feeding said drilling tool along its guiding means lengthwise of the column comprising a exible feed rack attached to the upper part and extendible with the upper column of said rack extending longitudinally along said column and the latter providing a support for said iiexible rack in all extended positions thereof, said feeding means also including a motor driven pinion mounted to move with said drilling tool during feeding thereof along the column and engaging said feed rack, wherein storing means is provided for receiving and storing the lower portion of said rack outwardly away from said column, and said flexible feed rack has the lower portion thereof disposed on said storing means as the column is collapsed.

8. A mine roof drilling apparatus comprising; an elongatable drill guide frame; a support mounted for movement along said guide frame; drill rotation means on said support; means for elongating said guide frame and for moving said support along said guide frame; said drill guide frame including telescopingly arranged members with one of said members lbeing operatively connected to said elongating means to effect movement thereof relative to the other member; an elongated flexible rack having one end thereof secured to said one of said members so that movement of said one member causes movement of said rack; said means for moving said support having the output thereof meshingly engaged with said rack; said rack being positioned, when said one of said members is fully extended, to be meshingly engageable by said output substantially throughout the entire length thereof.

9. A mine roof drilling apparatus comprising, an elongatable drill guide frame, a support mounted for movement along said guide frame, drill rotation means on said support, means for elongating said guide frame and for moving said support along said guide frame, said drill guide frame including telescopically arranged members with one of said members being operatively connected to said elongating means to effect movement thereof relative to the other member, an elongated flexible rack having one end thereof secured to said one of said members so that movement of said one member causes bodily movement of said rack, said means for moving said support having the output thereof meshingly engaged with said rack, wherein bodily movement of said rack positions a predetermined portion thereof meshingly cooperable with said output when said members are elongated and position such portion to be inoperative when said members are collapsed.

l0. A mine roof drilling apparatus comprising, an elongatable drill guide frame, a support mounted for movement along said guide frame, means for elongating said vguide frame and for moving said support along said guide frame, said drill guide frame including telescopingly arranged members with one of said members being operatively connected to said elongating means to effect movement thereof relative to the other member, an elongated exible rack having one end thereof secured to said one of said members so that movement of said one member causes bodily movement of said rack, said means for moving said support having the output thereof meshingly engaged with said rack, said rack having a portion thereof being positionable in an inoperative position when said members are collapsed, and means cooperably aligned with said guide frame for supporting said portion of said rack in such an inoperative position.

ll. A mounting for a mine roof drilling apparatus tiltable in either of opposite directions in a common plane comprising, bracket means securable to a mobile base and having spaced pivotal connections, said bracket means being oriented on such base to dene upper and lower pivotal connections, laterally spaced link members having spaced and aligned pivot pin receiving bores therein; pin means pivotally securing one of said aligned bores of said link members to said lower pivotal connection, a base member having spaced pivot pin receiving bores formed therein, said base member being located between said link members and having one of said bores thereof in alignment with the other aligned bores of said spaced link members receiving a pivot pin and forming a pivotal connection, a selectively extensible and collapsible link means having spaced pivotal connections thereon pivotally connected to said upper pivotal connection on said bracket means and to the other bore of said base member respectively, means on said bracket being abuttingly engageable with said spaced link members for preventing pivotal movement of said spaced link means relative to said bracket means beyond a predetermined position.

l2. A mounting for a mine roof drilling apparatus tiltable in either of opposite directions in a common plane comprising, a bracket means securable to a mobile base and having spaced pivotal connections, said bracket means being oriented on such base to define upper and lower pivotal connections, laterally spaced link members having spaced and aligned pivot pin receiving bores therein; pin means pivotally securing one of said aligned bores of said link members to said lower pivotal connection, a base member having spaced pivot pin receiving bores formed therein, said base member being located between said link members and having one of said bores thereof in alignment with the other aligned bores of said spaced link members receiving a pivot pin and forming a pivotal connection, a selectively extensible and collapsible link means having spaced pivotal connections thereon pivotally connected to said upper pivotal connection on said bracket means and to the other bore of said base member respectively, means on said bracket being abuttingly engageable with said spaced link members for preventing pivotal movement of said spaced link means relative to said bracket means beyond a predetermined position, selectively operable latch means cooperably positionable through said spaced link members for preventing pivotal movement of said base member relative to said spaced Y V7 .Y link members about said pivot pi'n'disposed through said other aligned bores. 13. A mounting for a mine able in either of'opposite directions in a common plane comprising, bracket means seeurablejto a mobile base and having spaced pivotal connections, said bracket means be-V members and having one of said bores thereof'in align# mentwith the otheralignedbores of said spaced linkv members receiving a pivot pin andforming a pivotal connection, Va selectively extensible and collapsible link means having spaced pivotal connections thereon pivotally connected to said upper pivotal connection on said bracket means and to the other boreof said base member respec- 1 tively, means on said bracket being abuttingly engageable with'said spaced link members for preventing pivotal movement of said' spaced link meansv relative to said bracket means beyonda predetermined position, yselectively operable ,latch V- means vcooperably positionable throughsaid spacedv link members for preventing pivotal movement of said base member relative tosaid spaced link members about said pivot pin disposed through said other aligned bores, said base being pivotallymovable relative to said spaced link members about said pivot pin disposed through said other aligned bores upon removal of said latch means from said spaced link members.

roof drilling apparatus ytilt- Y 8 141' In combination, a` frame, 'pivotal mounting means carried by said frame, an extensible drill boom supported by Vsaidpivotal mounting means,jsaid extensible drill boom Ahavinione member telescopicallyreceived inV another member, 'a tlexible feed element havinga ,xed portion and a free portion, said xed portion 'being connected to said onemember, and means onsaid pivotal mounting means for receiving and storing the free'portion of said feed element. f

15.v In combination, a frame, pivotal mounting means carried by saidframe, means-for tilting said mounting meansyarhollowl elongated member supported by said pivotal mounting means, a slidable member, means for sliding said slidable Vmember, krelative to saidhollow membenjan elongated `exible feedelement secured adjacent one endthereof to said'slidablernember, and'storing means mounted on said -pivotalmounting means for receiving and storing a portion of said feed element later-V ally outwardly from said' slidable member.

v Y References Cited bythe Examiner Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,661 3/40 Ibanez V v....'. 74'105 2,621,896 12/52 Feucht 173-,43 X,- 2,674,441 l 4/54-` Curtis 173-147 XL 2,766,012, 10/56 Hale Y 173-43 '2,819,042 1/58 Feucht 173--147 X '2,832,567 4/58 Fletcher 173-34` 2,870,994 l, 1*/59- K1ap1 a y 173-34 3,098,395 H7/63 Haganes 474-105 BROUGHTONV G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner;

CHARLES E. OCONNELLQExamfner. 

4. IN COMBINATION, AN UPRIGHT COLUMN COMPRISING RELATIVELY EXTENDIBLE TELESCOPIC PARTS WHICH WHEN THE COLUMN IS EXTENDED PROVIDE UPPER AND LOWER PARTS AND THE UPPER PART TELESCOPING DOWN ALONG THE LOWER PART AS THE COLUMN IS COLLAPSED, SAID PARTS PROVIDING EXTENSIBLE GUIDING MEANS ARRANGED LENGTHWISE OF THE COLUMN, A DRILLING TOOL MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMN FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID GUIDING MEANS, MEANS FOR RELATIVELY EXTENDING SAID COLUMN PARTS TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID COLUMN, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID DRILLING TOOL ALONG ITS GUIDING MEANS LENGTHWISE OF THE COLUMN COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE FEED RACK ATTACHED TO THE UPPER PART AND EXTENDABLE WITH THE UPPER COLUMN OF SAID RACK EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID COLUMN AND THE LATTER PROVIDING A SUPPORT FOR SAID FLEXIBLE RACK IN ALL EXTENDED POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID FEEDING MEANS ALSO INCLUDING A MOTOR DRIVEN PINION MOUNTED TO MOVE WITH SAID DRILLING TOOL DURING FEEDING THEREOF ALONG THE COLUMN AND ENGAGING SAID FEED RACK. 